Mayo Clinic Health Manager
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By Mayo Clinic staffIf tinea versicolor is severe or doesn't respond to over-the-counter medicine, you may need a prescription-strength topical or oral medication. These medications for tinea versicolor treatment include:
Topical
- Selenium sulfide (Selsun) 2.5 percent lotion
- Ciclopirox (Loprox) cream, gel or lotion
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral) cream or shampoo
Oral
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral) tablets
- Itraconazole (Sporanox) capsules
- Fluconazole (Diflucan) tablets
Even after successful treatment, your skin color may remain uneven for several weeks. Also, the infection may return in warm, humid weather. In rare cases, you may need to take a medication once or twice a month to prevent the infection from recurring.